Giancarlo Stanton (OF-MIA)

Injury He sustained a fractured hamate bone in his left hand causing him to miss the last three months of 2015.

2015 Season – In a post-steroids era that is now dominated by pitching, offensive statistics and home run totals have dramatically decreased over the past several years.  Stanton is one of the few legitimate power hitters in the league capable of hitting 40-plus home runs on an annual basis.  Through 74 games in 2015, Stanton had already hit 27 home runs with 67 RBIs and was arguably on his way to approaching 50 long balls.  However, he sustained a fracture in his hamate bone in his left hand last summer which cost him the final three months of the season.  There was a possibility he could have been activated in September, but additional scar tissue and lingering issues caused the Marlins to be overly cautious and shut him down for the remainder of the season.  This was the second year in a row that Stanton’s season was ended by an injury following facial fractures due to being hit by a pitch in 2014.

Reason For Optimism  

1.) Stanton is just entering the prime of his career and is already established as one of the premier power hitters in baseball.

2.) He has already shown he can return with a vengeance from a significant injury by re-establishing his power after suffering facial fractures in 2014.

3.) Stanton is experimenting with a customized bat that has a tapered handle to help accommodate the hamate fracture.

Reason For Concern

1.) Due to his strength and the power generated from his swing, Stanton could be at risk for re-aggravating his hand injury at any time when he swings.

2.) If he chooses to use a customized bat, it is unknown whether this will affect his ability to generate power and maintain the fluidity of his swing.

3.) While it is still a relatively small sample size and the injuries can be classified as a fluke, Stanton has sustained significant injuries two years in a row which creates some doubt as to whether he can be relied upon to stay healthy for an entire season.

2016 OUTLOOK Stanton is unquestionably a first round draft pick in any fantasy baseball league due to his offensive prowess and consistent power.  Despite not having much protection around him in the Marlins’ lineup, he is still able to consistently generate elite power production.  However, there is some concern about his ability to continue that in 2016 because of the hand injury he sustained last year.  No matter how strong he is, Stanton still needs his hands to control the bat and generate the power necessary to account for the typically gargantuan home runs he is known for.  Despite those potential risks, Stanton is well worth investing heavily in given his resilience and unique talents.  There are few, if any, other players in baseball who can be considered as sure a thing to hit 40-plus home runs assuming he stays healthy.  He automatically gives any fantasy baseball owner an edge in the power categories.  Unless there is a major setback in spring training or disturbing trends in his ability to comfortably swing a bat, Stanton can be counted on for another monstrous year at the top of the leader board in most power categories.

If you are wondering the best way to evaluate players such as Stanton so that you can be prepared for your draft, then be sure to check out the 2016 Fantasy Alarm Draft Guide

Michael A. Stein, Esq. is the Chief Justice of Fantasy Judgment, the industry's premier dispute resolution service, and co-host of the Fantasy Alarm Podcast.  You can contact him at michael.stein@fantasyjudgment.com or on Facebook and Twitter (@FantasyJudgment).